Convertible sofa

ABSTRACT

A conventional-appearing sofa having the customary sofa seat is provided with a back which is moveable from a substantiallyvertical sofa-back position to an overhead horizontal position where it forms the upper bunk of a double bunk bed. The sofa includes arm rests each having a pivoted, swingable link arm and latch means to position and retain the back in its elevated double bunk position.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 Montiague July M, 1973 [54] CONVERTIBLE SOFA FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS lnvemofi Josef s 801 Falmouth 1,245,703 10/1960 France 5/9 R Thousand Oaks, Calif. 91360 [22] Fil d; F b, 11, 1972 Primary ExaminerCasmir A. Nunberg 21 A 1. No.: 225 383 1 pp 57 ABSTRACT A conventional-appearing sofa having the customary g sofa seat is provided with a back which is moveable [58] Field 5/2 3 9 from a substantially-vertical sofa-back position to an 297/63 overhead horizontal position where it forms the upper bunk of a double bunk bed. The sofa includes arm rests [56] References Cited each having a pivoted, swingable link arm and latch means to position and retain the back in its elevated UNITED STATES PATENTS double bunk position 3,311,932 4/1967 Ahola 5 9 R 2,945,241 7 1960 Sideroff 5/8 10 Claims, 6 Drawmg Flames l 'l I 1' i I I/ l I I l I SBEEI 1 [If 3 PAIENTEnJuLu ma SHEET 2 OF 3 CONVERTIBLE SOFA BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to sofas and more particularly to sofas which are convertible into beds for night time sleeping purposes. Prior convertible sofas or couches have been proposed which may be manipulated to provide sleeping accommodations. However, most such arrangements, when made up for night time use, protrude into the room and require considerable additional floor space. Furthermore, they frequently are heavy, bulky, and difficult to change into condition for sleeping.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A conventional-appearing sofa including a horizontal seat and a vertical back is provided at each end with compartmented arm rests, each accomodating a pivotally-mounted back support linkage. When manipw lated to the night accomodation position, the upper surface or top wall of each arm rest separates and linkage contained therein allows the back to swing upwardly to an overhead parallel position spaced above the seat so as to provide a double bunk bed occupying no more floor space than the sofa alone.

STATEMENT OF THE OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a simply-constructed, compact, easily-converted sofa bed arrangement bywhich a conventional-appearing davenport may quickly be changed into a double bunk bed arrangement for the sleeping accomodations of two persons.

Another object is to provide such a sofa arrangement which expands into sleeping accomodations for two persons but which does not require additional floor space when so expanded.

Another object is to provide a double bunk sleeping accomodation which does not necessitate moving other furniture to accomodateit and which may readily be compacted into a conventional sofa orcouch for daytime use.

Other objects, advantages and novel features will be apparentfrom the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a generalized perspective view of a sofa or couch embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a change position view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the parts in the raised or double bunk position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view partially broken away into one end of the sofa of FIGS. 1 and 2 in the double bunk position showing the upper bunk supports and the linkage mechanism located within an arm rest compartment.

FIG. 4 is an end view into one of the sofa arm rest compartments, with outer panel removed, showing the linkage mechanism as it appears when the sofa back is lowered.

FIG. 5 is a change position view similar to FIG. 4 showing the position of the linkage mechanism when the sofa back is in its elevated or overhead position.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail view taken along a line substantially corresponding to line 66 of FIG. 5 and showing the manner in which panel movement limiting stops abut when the back is elevated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 shows a conventional-appearing sofa having an elongate horizontal seat 10 bordered on each end by arm rests 12 and 14, and along the rear edge by a back 16 in front of which may be located cushions 18. The horizontal storage compartment 20 includes a framework (not shown) above which the seat 10 may be located. This framework may be secured to and supported by the end-located arm rest units 12 and 14 in conventional fashion, being connected thereto by any suitable means such as bolts 13. Below the seat 10 may be located a storage drawer 22 which fits into the storage compartment 20 and to which access may be gained from the front.

In order to convert the sofa of FIG. 1 into the double bunk bed illustrated in FIG. 2, the back 16 is provided at each end with a link arm or support plate 24, only one of which is shown. Each plate extends forwardly from back 16 when the sofa is in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. These support plates 24 form a part of a back support link mechanism by which structural support and alignment between seat It) and back support 16 is maintained at all times. The linkage mechanism is shown in more detail in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 and each includes a pivot 26 in the upper forward corner of a support-accommodating compartment formed within each arm rest 12 and 14 about which pivot link arms or support plates 24 may angularly pivot from a daytime down position shown in FIG. 4 to an upwardly extended night time position shown in FIGS. 2. 3, and 5. It will be apparent that support plates 24 are normally concealed within the compartment formed within each arm rest.

The arm rest compartments may be variously configured but in the illustrated embodiment each includes an inside panel 28, an outside panel 30, a bottom wall 32, a front wall 34, and a separable top having parts 36 and 38, the latter being secured to back 16.

Because of the off-balance weight of back 16, a ten sion spring 40 is provided to assist the operator in swinging the back 16 to the overhead position. In FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 the right hand end of this spring is shown secured at point 42 to the inside panel 28, while the opposite end 44 is secured to support plate 24. It will be apparent that shortening of the spring occurs as the back 16 is elevated and, conversely, tension applied to the spring helps to counter-balance and cushion and downward movement of the back 16 as it is lowered to the day-time sofa or couch position.

In order to limit upward movement of the support plates and accurately position the back support in its elevated location, a stop-pad 46 and a catch 4% are provided. These are shown in detail in FIG. 6 and when they contact, angular upward movement of the back is stopped. To retain the parts in elevated or night-time position, a latch including lever arm 50 may be employed. This lever is pivoted at 52 and its upper end is provided with a notch 54 to receive the in-tumed catch 48 mounted on plate 24 when it swings to the upper position. It will be noted that a cam surface 56 adjacent to this notch urges the lever arm 50 sidewise slightly to permit the stop to enter the notch. Once in that position the upper end of the lever moves slightly under the edge of catch 48 urged by a compression spring 58 mounted as shown on the panel 28 by angle bracket 60.

The lever mechanism is similar at both ends of the sofa and for joint operation the lower ends of these levers may be interconnected by a trip rod 62 which extends through a rod-receiving slot 64. It will be apparent that movement of the trip rod to the left, as by foot of an operator, will withdraw the notched upper end of the lever from the undersurface of catch 48 and permit the back 16 to be lowered from its upper horizontal position to its relatively vertical position.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that there is provided a convertible item of furniture which may quickly be changed from a conventionalappearing sofa or couch suitable for living room use into a double bunk bed in which two persons may sleep in single comfort.

Instead of cushions 18, the front surface of sofa back 16 may be provided with a built-in back supporting cushion for daytime use and, if desired, may have a built-in mattress on its reverse side which mattress will be on top of the upper bunk when the back is swung up into the overhead position.

If desired, guard rails 66 may be mounted in rail post receiving openings 68 in upper bunk. These rails and the bedding for both bunks may normally be stored in the storage drawer 22, to which access is gained by pulling it out forwardly.

It will noted from the drawings and particularly FIG. 1 that the lowermost portion of the back member 16 is, in the sofa position, received in an elongate space provided along the rear edge of the seat member 10, enabling the back member to be of maximum width and still effect a low profile. Another of several advantages is that the back member may, when in the elevated double bunk position, be wide enough to accommodate guard rail post-receiving openings without unduly limiting the sleeping area.

The sofa of the present invention is particularly useful where floor space is restricted as in one room studio apartments, trailers, mountain cabins, aboard ship, and in dens and recreation rooms. During the day and evening, a sofa for seating purposes is provided but, when sleeping accomodations are required, the sofa is readily converted into a double bunk bed occupying the same floor space and capable of accomodating two persons in single sleeping confort.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible and it is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of furniture which is readily convertible from a sofa for daytime use to a double bunk bed for night-time use comprising:

a pair of sofa end portions spaced from each other and the upper surfaces thereof forming arm rests, said end portions serving to accommodate structural alignment and support apparatus thereon;

a sofa seat member disposed between said end portions and affixed thereto so as to be supported thereby;

a sofa back member also disposed between said sofa end portions and oriented substantailly upright on edge so as to constitute the back of a sofa formed by the assembly;

the structural alignment and support apparatus accommodated by each of the end portions including a link arm pivotally connected to the end portion and structurally fixed at its opposite end to the sofa back member so as to provide alignment and support thereof in both its sofa and its double bunk position;

said pivotal connection allowing angular movement of the back from a substantially upright sofa position to a horizontal overhead upper bunk position.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the sofa back member is at least as wide as the sofa seat member and the sofa seat member is positioned forwardly to leave an open slot along its rear edge to accommodate the lower portion of the sofa back member when the latter is in the upright sofa position.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the sofa end portions are each internally hollow so as to accommodate the structural alignment and support apparatus therewithin and conceal same from view during the daytime sofa position of the article of furniture.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the structural alignment and support apparatus includes counterbalance means normally serving to urge the link arms and back member affixed thereto to an overhead position where the back member forms the upper bunk of a double bunk bed.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein latch means are provided to retain the link arms and the back member in the raised position.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein latch biasing means prevent accidental release of the latch after the back member has been secured in its upper double bunk position.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the pivot point of each link arm is located at an upper forward corner of each end piece to thereby provide a rearwardly and downwardly arcuate motion to the back member as it is moved from its upper double bunk position to its upright sofa position.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the upper surface of each end portion forms an arm rest and the upper edge of the back member in the sofa position is at substantially the same level as the upper surface of each end portion so that a low profile sofa having upper contour lines of substantially the same height is provided.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein pivotal movement of the back member to the double bed position presents the rear surface of said back member uppermost and wherein guard rail receiving openings are provided in the sofa back into which guard rail support posts may be received when the back is in the upper double bunk position, and guard rails having posts fitting into and held in such openings so as to prevent the occupant from rolling off the upper bunk.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the link arm is in the form of a plate.

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1. An article of furniture which is readily convertible from a sofa for daytime use to a double bunk bed for night-time use comprising: a pair of sofa end portions spaced from each other and the upper surfaces thereof forming arm rests, said end portions serving to accommodate structural alignment and support apparatus thereon; a sofa seat member disposed between said end portions and affixed thereto so as to be supported thereby; a sofa back member also disposed between said sofa end portions and oriented substantailly upright on edge so as to constitute the back of a sofa formed by the assembly; the structural alignment and support apparatus accommodated by each of the end portions including a link arm pivotally connected to the end portion and structurally fixed at its opposite end to the sofa back member so as to provide alignment and support thereof in both its sofa and its double bunk position; said pivotal connection allowing angular movement of the back from a substantially upright sofa position to a horizontal overhead upper bunk position.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the sofa back member is at least as wide as the sofa seat member and the sofa seat member is positioned forwardly to leave an open slot along its rear edge to accommodate the lower portion of the sofa back member when the latter is in the upright sofa position.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the sofa end portions are each internally hollow so as to accommodate the structural alignment and support apparatus therewithin and conceal same from view during the daytime sofa position of the article of furniture.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the structural alignment and support apparatus includes counterbalance means normally serving to urge the link arms and back member affixed thereto to an overhead position where the back member forms the upper bunk of a double bunk bed.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein latch means are provided to retain the link arms and the back member in the raised position.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein latch biasing means prevent accidental release of the latch after the back member has been secured in its upper double bunk position.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein the piVot point of each link arm is located at an upper forward corner of each end piece to thereby provide a rearwardly and downwardly arcuate motion to the back member as it is moved from its upper double bunk position to its upright sofa position.
 8. The device of claim 1 wherein the upper surface of each end portion forms an arm rest and the upper edge of the back member in the sofa position is at substantially the same level as the upper surface of each end portion so that a low profile sofa having upper contour lines of substantially the same height is provided.
 9. The device of claim 1 wherein pivotal movement of the back member to the double bed position presents the rear surface of said back member uppermost and wherein guard rail receiving openings are provided in the sofa back into which guard rail support posts may be received when the back is in the upper double bunk position, and guard rails having posts fitting into and held in such openings so as to prevent the occupant from rolling off the upper bunk.
 10. The device of claim 1 wherein the link arm is in the form of a plate. 